Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Working in the Hard Stuff

All right, I don't have time to write a proper post, so instead let's try some homework.

1. Name five skills you wish you possessed that would make you a better DM.

Be specific. Be very specific. If you can express the skill - as it applies to YOU, personally - in a sentence or less, then you're not thinking hard enough about the question! You're tossing off a trite phrase that you've tossed off a hundred times without it meaning anything. You are a complicated person, with complicated needs and complicated motives. Describe five skills you want that apply to those motives.

2. Name five sacrifices you'd be willing to make to gain any of those skills.

Again, be specific. Think about the sacrifice. Be honest about it. Name something you actually think you'd be able to do . . . even if it is a very small sacrifice. A tiny sacrifice that has the potential of actually happening is a million times better than a great, fake sacrifice you'll never make.

That's it. That's more work than you'll do this year - if you'll apply yourself.

As for me?

I can do express this easily.

Read this blog. There are at least five skills I've named. In insane levels of detail. There are at least five sacrifices I've made and described myself willing to make. In insane levels of detail.

But I'll work on it and have five more of each . . . as soon as I can.

The title of this post: this is something I used to say when gearing up to talk over something that truly mattered with someone that mattered to me.

So long as you tag any quotes you make back to this blog or even better to the buy page for How to Run on Lulu or Amazon, we're good. The things you could say - assuming you don't quote the whole book can only help sell copies.

I have answered the first part on my new/first blog The Long Haul. I intend to answer the second today or tomorrow. This post finally kicked my ass into gear on starting my own blog and trying even harder on being a better DM. Thanks

Additional Content

Began playing Dungeons and Dragons at the age of 15, thirty-eight years ago. I am a steadfast AD&D gamer, but I have made so many changes to the original system that my present model is something of a Frankenstein's monster of role-playing design. I continue to make new changes every day to my game's structure and function.

The Net has described me as a 'mad scientist of RPG blogging,' and a 'Quixotic bastard' ... and also 'the most gonzo - and the grouchiest - old school DM.'

Progress on The Fifth Man

For a period going forward, I will be rewriting the last third of the book as a second draft. I will begin recording that progress also as soon as I pick up the task again. It has been more than two weeks now and I apologize to my backers; but rest assured, I'm sorting myself out and I'll get started again soon.

Progress on the third draft, finalized (will likely be some continuity fixes) stand as follows:

June 29, 2017

Distance yesterday: 0 words

Total distance: 75,490

Chapter in progress: 17

Please Support Me

Writing the book takes its toll, particularly as I am just another grunt working for minimum wage in the real world. Every donation helps me have time where I am not performing physical labor and I can put my energy towards the things that you, the reader, likes.